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The Chapel Bridge and its octagonal Water Tower crossing the Reuss in Lucerne, seen from above

Lucerne

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Lucerne explained

In a nutshell

Lucerne sits where the Reuss river leaves Lake Lucerne, and the whole old town is built around that crossing. The Chapel Bridge with its painted panels is the picture everyone knows, and the Water Tower beside it has been a prison, an archive and a treasury. Behind the waterfront you find painted house fronts, small squares and a medieval wall you can still walk along. Two mountains frame the city, Pilatus and Rigi, and both are a train or boat ride away rather than an expedition. It is the classic Switzerland people picture before they arrive, which is why it works so well as a first stop.

Sightseeing in Lucerne

Landmarks

A guest with an umbrella at the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne on a rainy day

Chapel Bridge

Europe's oldest surviving wooden bridge, spanning the Reuss river.

Küssnacht am Rigi on Lake Lucerne in the evening light, where the Seebodenalp gondola starts

Lake Lucerne

Views onto Mount Pilatus and Rigi from the promenade.

Chateau Guetsch on its wooded hill above the Reuss in Lucerne

Château Gütsch

A fairytale-like hilltop castle overlooking the Old Town.

A guest in front of the town hall tower in the old town of Lucerne

Old Town façades

Painted house fronts and squares dating back to the 1300s.

Two guests at the railing in Lucerne, the Chapel Bridge and Water Tower behind them

Water Tower

An octagonal stone tower beside the Chapel Bridge, once a prison and archive.

The twin domes of the Jesuit Church in Lucerne, with the Water Tower and Chapel Bridge beyond

Jesuit Church

A twin-towered baroque church right on the riverfront.

The walkway along the Musegg Wall in Lucerne, one of its towers ahead

Musegg Wall

A medieval city wall with nine towers overlooking the Old Town.

The cliffs of Mount Pilatus dropping away to Lake Lucerne far below

Mount Pilatus

A dramatic peak above the city, reachable by the world's steepest cogwheel railway.

The small stone chapel on Rigi Kulm above Lake Lucerne, standing in deep snow

Mount Rigi

The "Queen of the Mountains", with sweeping views over the lake and Alps.

Things to do in Lucerne

Activities

A historic paddle steamer approaching the pier on Lake Lucerne

Paddle steamer cruise

A classic ride across the lake on a historic paddle steamer.

Two guests on a square in Lucerne old town in front of a richly painted house front

Old Town photo walk

Chapel Bridge, Water Tower and the medieval city walls.

The Lion Monument in Lucerne, carved into the rock face above its still pond

Lion Monument visit

A quiet, moving memorial carved straight into the rock.

A red Pilatus gondola emerging from the fog on its way up the mountain

Pilatus cogwheel railway

Ride the world's steepest cogwheel train to the summit of Pilatus.

Our tours

Tours to this destination

Lucerne from above with the lake, the Chapel Bridge and Mount Pilatus behind Lucerne & Seebodenalp Tour FromCHF 910 View tour
In pictures

Photos of Lucerne

Looking along the flower boxes of Lucerne's Chapel Bridge towards the Jesuit Church A guest with an umbrella at the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne on a rainy day Küssnacht am Rigi on Lake Lucerne in the evening light, where the Seebodenalp gondola starts Chateau Guetsch on its wooded hill above the Reuss in Lucerne A guest in front of the town hall tower in the old town of Lucerne The Chapel Bridge in Lucerne on its wooden piles, hung with red geraniums above the Reuss The twin domes of the Jesuit Church in Lucerne, with the Water Tower and Chapel Bridge beyond A guest inside a rope-net tunnel at the adventure park on Pilatus The cliffs of Mount Pilatus dropping away to Lake Lucerne far below The summit of Rigi Kulm with its station and the cogwheel track climbing the ridge A couple in the Jesuit Church in Lucerne at Christmas, the gilded altar behind them Lake Lucerne still as glass at dawn with the snow-covered Pilatus across the water The sunken Hohle Gasse path near Kuessnacht, its mossy walls closing in A guest posing in the Grand Tour of Switzerland photo frame above Lucerne, with the lake behind The Lion Monument in Lucerne, carved into the rock face above its still pond A red Pilatus gondola emerging from the fog on its way up the mountain Four guests in a selfie on the shore of Lake Lucerne at Küssnacht at sunset Two guests leaning out of the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne above its pink flower boxes A guest looking up at the painted ceiling inside the Jesuit Church in Lucerne Two guests at the shore of Lake Lucerne in Küssnacht at dusk Two guests walking hand in hand through the mossy Hohle Gasse near Küssnacht A guest with her camera at the summit railing on Pilatus, the rock lost in fog Chateau Guetsch above Lucerne emerging from winter fog over the funicular station A couple on the small lakeside promenade in Küssnacht am Rigi on Lake Lucerne The Jesuit Church in Lucerne mirrored in the Reuss under an orange sunset Lucerne and the Reuss in the evening light, with Mount Pilatus behind the town The dying lion of Lucerne close up, the inscription carved below him The white and gold baroque nave of the Jesuit Church in Lucerne The fjord-like Urnersee, the southern arm of Lake Lucerne, on the steamer route to Flüelen The summit buildings of Pilatus Kulm on their ridge with cloud rolling past
Aerial drone view of a Swiss valley at golden hour

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